Geranium plant named ‘Balgalfroe’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Geranium plant named ‘Balgalfroe’, characterized by its outwardly spreading and mounded growth habit; freely basal branching habit; dark green-colored leaves; and light purple-colored semi-double flowers with a red purple-colored eye.

BOTANICAL CLASSIFICATION/CULTIVAR DESIGNATION

Pelargonium×hortorum×Pelargonium peltatum cultivar ‘Balgalfroe’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Geraniumplant, botanically known as Pelargonium×hortorum×Pelargonium peltatum,and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Balgalfroe’.

The new Geranium is a product of a planned breeding program conducted bythe Inventor in Arroyo Grande, Calif. The objective of the breedingprogram is to develop new interspecific Geranium cultivars withoutwardly spreading growth habit, uniform flowering, and interestingflower and foliage colors.

The new Geranium originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventor in June, 2000 of a proprietary Pelargonium×hortorum selectionidentified as code number 9360-3, not patented, as the female, or seed,parent with a proprietary Pelargonium peltatum selection identified ascode number 8760-12, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. Thecultivar ‘Balgalfroe’ was discovered and selected by the Inventor as aflowering plant within the progeny from this cross-pollination in acontrolled environment in Arroyo Grande, Calif.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal cuttings taken atArroyo Grande, Calif., since June, 2000 has shown that the uniquefeatures of this new Geranium are stable and reproduced true to type insuccessive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Balgalfroe’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Balgalfroe’ as a new and distinct Geraniumcultivar:

1. Outwardly spreading and mounded growth habit.

2. Freely basal branching habit.

3. Dark green-colored leaves.

4. Light purple-colored semi-double flowers with a red-purple coloredeye.

Plants of the new Geranium differ primarily from plants of the parentselections in flower coloration.

The new Geranium can be compared to the cultivar, ‘Balgalsofi’,disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,765. However, in side-by-sidecomparisons conducted in West Chicago, Ill., plants of the new Geraniumdiffered from plants of the cultivar ‘Balgalsofi’ in the followingcharacteristics:

1. Plants of the new Geranium were taller and more vigorous than plantsof the cultivar ‘Balgalsofi’.

2. Plants of the new Geranium had larger flower umbels than plants ofthe cultivar ‘Balgalsofi’.

3. Plants of the new Geranium had more petals per flower than plants ofthe cultivar ‘Balgalsofi’.

4. Plants of the new Geranium and the cultivar ‘Balgalsofi’ differedslightly in flower coloration.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearanceof the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.

The photograph comprises a side perspective view of a typical floweringplant of ‘Balgalfroe’. Flower and foliage colors in the photographdiffer slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanicaldescription which accurately describe the colors of the new Geranium.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The cultivar ‘Balgalfroe’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature and light intensity,without, however, any variance in genotype. The aforementionedphotograph and following observations and measurements describe plantsgrown in West Chicago, Ill., under commercial practice in apolycarbonate-covered greenhouse with day temperatures about 18 to 26°C., night temperatures about 18 to 26° C. and light levels about 3,500to 5,000 foot-candles. Plants used for the photograph and descriptionwere about eight to ten weeks from planting rooted cuttings. In thefollowing description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

Botanical classification: Pelargonium×hortorum×Pelargonium peltatumcultivar ‘Balgalfroe’.

Parentage:

Female parent.—Proprietary Pelargonium×hortorum selection identified ascode number 9360-3, not patented.

Male parent.—Proprietary Pelargonium peltatum selection identified ascode number 8760-12, not patented.

Propagation:

Type cutting.—Terminal cuttings.

Time to initiate roots.—About 7 days at 18° C.

Time to develop roots.—About 21 days at 18° C.

Root description.—Fibrous, freely branching.

Plant description:

General appearance.—Outwardly spreading and mounded growth habit.Appropriate for 10-cm and larger containers.

Growth and branching habit.—Vigorous and freely basal branching withabout three lateral branches at the base. Pinching, that is, removal ofterminal apices, is typically not required.

Plant height (to top of foliage).—About 15.9 cm.

Plant width.—About 20.2 cm.

Lateral branches.—Length: About 9.2 cm. Internode length: About 2.3 cm.Texture: Pubescent. Color: 144B.

Foliage description.—Arrangement: Opposite, simple. Quantity of leavesper lateral branch: About eleven. Length: About 4.6 cm. Width: About 8.2cm. Shape: Reniform. Apex: Rounded. Base: Cordate. Margin: Crenate.Venation: Palmate. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Velvety;pubescent. Color: Young and fully expanded foliage, upper surface:Darker than 137A; no distinct zonation pattern. Young and fully expandedfoliage, lower surface: 137B. Venation, upper and lower surfaces: 141D.Petiole: Length: About 9.7 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm. Texture, upper andlower surfaces: Pubescent. Color, upper and lower surfaces: 144B.

Flower description:

Flower arrangement and type.—Single flowers arranged in hemisphericalumbels arising from apical leaf axils. Umbels displayed above thefoliage. At full flowering, usually about four open umbels and aboutthree developing umbels per plant. Flowers semi-double and rounded inshape. Umbels persistent. Flowers not fragrant.

Flowering season.—Year-round under greenhouse conditions. In the garden,flowering is continuous from spring until fall. Plants start floweringabout eight weeks after planting.

Flower longevity.—Flowers last about ten days on the plant.

Umbels.—Diameter: About 9.3 cm. Height: About 6.1 cm. Number of flowersper umbel: About eight. Flower diameter: About 5.3 cm. Flower depth(height): About 2.1 cm.

Flower buds.—Length: About 1.2 cm. Diameter: About 8 mm. Shape: Ovoid.Color: 73C.

Petal/petaloids.—Quantity: About nine petals and about five petaloidsper flower. Petaloids variable in size and shape. Arrangement:Imbricate. Petal length: Upper petals: About 2.9 cm. Lower petals: About2.4 cm. Petal width: Upper petals: About 1.9 cm. Lower petals: About 1.9cm. Petal shape: Obovate. Petal/petaloid apex: Rounded, obtuse.Petal/petaloid base: Attenuate. Petal/petaloid margin: Entire.Petal/petaloid texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth. Petal/petaloidaspect: Cupped. Petal/petaloid color: When opening and fully opened,upper surface: 76C; upper petals with red purple, 71D, spot towards thebase; main color becoming closer to lighter than 77D with subsequentdevelopment; venation towards the base, 70A. When opening and fullyopened, lower surface: 76D; venation, 76D.

Sepals.—Quantity: Five per flower; not imbricate on open flowers.Length: About 1.3 cm. Width: About 4 mm. Shape: Ensiform to lanceolate.Apex: Acuminate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper surface: Glabrous.Texture, lower surface: Pilose. Color, upper and lower surfaces: 144B.

Peduncle (umbel stem).—Length: About 12.7 cm. Angle: Erect. Strength:Strong. Texture: Pubescent. Color: 144A.

Pedicel (individual flower stem).—Length: About 3.7 cm. Angle: Erect.Strength: Strong. Texture: Pubescent. Color: 144A, towards the apex,overlain with 181A.

Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Anther quantity: Five per flower.Anther length: About 2 mm. Anther color: 86B. Pollen amount: Abundant.Pollen color: 171B. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity: One per flower. Pistillength: About 1 cm. Stigma shape: Five-parted, star-shaped. Stigmacolor: 80C. Style length: About 2 mm. Style color: 150C.

Seed/fruit.—None observed.

Disease/pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests common toPelargonium has not been observed.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Geranium plant named‘Balgalfroe’, as herein illustrated and described.